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Open Data Explainer

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About this Open Data Explainer

This guide is a resource for anyone interested in doing formal or informal research using open 911 data. It provides an overview of the most important elements to consider when evaluating datasets to determine if they are suitable for your analysis.

The greatest challenge facing 911 research is that 911 data is inconsistent across jurisdictions. There are 5,748 PSAPs—and no guarantee that any two dispatch centers will use the same technology or methods, or that their systems can work together. The Reimagine 911 project is standardizing 911 data to give researchers, administrators, and advocates a like-for-like view of the different ways cities operate their 911 systems. We believe that if we can provide standardized data that allows for cross-jurisdictional comparison, we can provide a new level of transparency that cities and community groups alike can use to advocate for change.

We believe this explainer can jumpstart work by researchers and advocates saving dozens of hours of research and learning.

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About the Open Data Review

This explainer is based on an in-depth landscape analysis performed by Reimagine 911 volunteers. We began with 570 cities, ultimately narrowing our review down to 127 emergency response datasets. We reviewed these cities across 27 dimensions such as the number of years available, data excluded, usage rights, and more. This section of the knowledge base shares our learnings across most of these 27 dimensions.

We have shared this landscape analysis, which we refer to as the Open Data Review, publicly as a resource for researchers, civic technologists, activists, and journalists seeking to learn more about the 911 emergency response system by using open data.

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Contributors & Appreciation

The knowledge shared in this Open Data Explainer and the Open Data Review was collected, reviewed, and edited by many passionate and skilled volunteers and staff on the Reimagine 911 team:

  • The Data Description team: Aleks Hatfield, Brandon Bolton, Chizo Nwagwu, Elaine Chow, Em Spalti, Erica Pauls, Gio Sce, Gregory Janesch, Ivelina Momcheva, Jamie Klenetsky Fay, Jaya Chauhan, Jennifer Miller, Jim Grenadier, Katlyn McGraw, Mariah Lynch, Micah Mutrux, Michelle Hoogenhout, Patina Herring, Peter Zeglen, Sarah Graham

  • The Column Champions: Aleks Hatfield, Brandon Bolton, Chizo Nwagwu, Dan Stormont, Elaine Chow , Em Spalti, Erica Pauls , Gio Sce , Gregory Janesch, Iva Momcheva, Ivelina Momcheva, Jamie Klenetsky Fay, Jason Trout, Jennifer Miller, Jim Grenadier, Joanna Smith, Jonathan Melvin, Margaret Fine, Mariah Lynch, Patina Herring, Peter Zeglen, Sarah Graham

  • The Data Explainers: Patina Herring, Iva Momcheva, Jim Grenadier, Myranda L Pierce, Brandon Bolton, Jennifer Miller, Sarah Graham, Jamie Klenetsky Fay, Gio Sce, Dan Stormont

  • The Knowledge Base team: Danielle Pytko, Kimberly Tan

  • Reimagine911 staff: Micah Mutrux, Becky Phung, Stacey Rebekah Scott, Meg Meadows, Billy Lim, James Armes, Michael Cowden

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